On Sunday, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) stated that the use of military resources by President-elect Trump for his mass deportation initiative would only occur as a “last resort.” In an appearance on ABC News’s “This Week,” host Martha Raddatz pressed Donalds for further clarification regarding the details of Trump’s mass deportation plan, which he suggested might involve military support for the operation.
Reinforcing the Trump administration’s focus, Donalds explained that the priority would be on deporting individuals who are in the U.S. illegally and have committed crimes, while suggesting that military involvement would be minimal.
Trump’s deportation plan prioritizes criminal offenders with minimal military involvement
“Our main objective, as we have consistently stated throughout the campaign, is to repatriate approximately one million criminal illegal aliens back to their home countries. This is our initial focus,” he noted.
He emphasized that deploying military assets would only happen under dire circumstances, remarking, “Military involvement is considered an option of last resort.
We have more than 6,000 officers committed to removing illegal aliens from our country, including those with existing deportation orders that have yet to be enforced by the Biden administration.”
He continued, “Under Donald Trump, our strategy will involve using personnel from ICE and other parts of the Department of Homeland Security for repatriation. If military resources are necessary, it will strictly be for logistical support.”
Additionally, Donalds sought to alleviate concerns regarding the visibility of military forces on American streets. “It’s essential to avoid spreading the notion that troops will be conducting door-to-door operations in the U.S. That scenario will not occur,” he clarified.
